Sony has partnered with Tencent to buy a 30.34 percent share by FromSoftware, the developer behind titles like Elden Rings, Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne. Tencent’s Sixjoy Hong Kong division will own a 16.25% stake in FromSoftware, Sony will take a 14.09% interest, and parent Kadokawa Group will remain the largest shareholder with a 69.66% stake. Tencent has had an investment in Kadokawa since last year.
FromSoftware may not be a developer on the tip of your tongue, but it has an impressive catalog. Elden Rings has been the best selling game of 2022 so far, with sales 12 million copies only for the first 18 days. With Bloodborne and Dark Souls franchise, it has also produced paranormal adventure on PSVR Deraciné and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
The company plans to use the money raised (36.4 billion yen or $262 million) to strengthen its relationship with Sony, create new IPs, and expand its publishing capabilities globally. Elden Rings was the company’s biggest success to date, but it was published outside of Japan by Bandai Namco. Earlier this year, FromSoftware and Bandai Namco Is called Elden Rings the start of a “new franchise” and announced efforts to “extend the brand beyond games and into people’s everyday lives.”
While Microsoft has won most of the headlines with (still pending) Acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Sony has also caught up with the studio. It’s recently complete a $3.6 billion deal to buy Halo and Life developer Bungie Games, along with God of War Valkyrie and Jade Raymond’s . co-developing studio Haven Studios. Consider the success of Elden RingsIts stake in FromSoftware seems like a relative bargain.
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